Strawberry plant named &#39;NCS 10-038&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of commercial strawberry plant ( Fragaria  x  ananassa  Duchense) named ‘NCS 10-038’ substantially as illustrated and described, characterized by its very high yields, mid-season (peak harvest weeks 15-18) fruit ripening with the fruit having a medium size, good flavor, conical to wedge shape, and being of a good quality with very good flesh firmness and good skin toughness. ‘NCS 10-038’ has fair to good firmness and is suitable for pick your own and local sales.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the novelstrawberry plant disclosed herein is Fragaria x ananassa Duchense.

Variety denomination: The inventive strawberry variety has been giventhe variety denomination ‘NCS 10-038.’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety ofstrawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duchense) named ‘NCS 10-038’. Thisstrawberry plant (genotype) originated in a strawberry breeding plot inSalisbury, N.C. The genotype was collected from open pollinated fruitfrom the seed parent ‘NCH 08-07’. The seed parent is an unreleasedbreeding selection with med large size, high fruit quality and goodappearance. The seeds collected from the female parent in the spring of2009 were germinated in the summer and planted in the fall of 2009. Theselection was made in the spring of 2010. ‘NCS 10-038’ was firstasexually propagated at the Piedmont Research Station, Salisbury N.C.,Rowan County, in 2011. Ten daughter plants were propagated from runnertips originating from the mother plant and transplanted to second testtrials where they were compared to several other genotypes in 2011.Plants were propagated in subsequent years and were established inreplicated trials in 2012-17. ‘NCS 10-038’ exhibited very high yieldsthrough the season in trials in multiple locations and years. Propagulesof ‘NCS 10-038’ in all trials have been identical to the initialdaughter plants. The combination of traits disclosed herein thatcharacterize ‘NCS 10-038’ have been retained true to type throughsuccessive cycles of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘NCS 10-038’ when grown in the piedmont regions of North Carolina hasproduced consistently high yields (Tables 1 and 2). Yields are typically130-150% higher than ‘Chandler’, the current standard cultivar grown inNorth Carolina. At the Central Crops Research Station, in Clayton N.C.,flowering occurred in 2016 in weeks 10-16. Peak ripe fruit yieldoccurred in weeks 15-18. The new and distinct variety of strawberryFragaria x ananassa Duchense ‘NCS 10-038’ has the following uniquecombination of desirable features that are outstanding in a new varietyincluding (1) very high yield, (2) long season of harvest for springcrop, (3) semi-firm fruit, and (4) adapted to the southeastern US. ‘NCS10-038’ is suitable for pick your own and local sales.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of ‘NCS10-038’. Thephotographs were taken in Clayton, N.C.

FIG. 1 shows whole 8-month old plants of ‘NCS 10-038’ including leaves,inflorescences and fruit at varying stages of ripeness.

FIG. 2 shows a close up of a single 8 month old plant of ‘NCS 10-038’showing leaves, inflorescences and fruit at varying stages of ripeness.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of fruit of ‘NCS 10-038’, sliced and whole. Thedesignation of “038” in FIG. 3 is an abbreviation for the claimed plant,‘NCS 10-038’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of a new distinct strawberryvariety known as ‘NCS 10-038’. The description is based on observationstaken from the 2014-2017 growing seasons in the two piedmont locationsof Clayton and Salisbury, N.C. Each year the plants are set in the falland fruiting occurs in the following spring. This description is inaccordance with International Union for the Protection of New Varietiesof Plants (UPOV) terminology. Color designations and descriptions andother phenotypical traits may deviate from the stated values dependingon location and season as this genotype has not been observed in allenvironmental conditions. Color terminologies are based on The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, London (R.H.S.) (5^(th) Edition.2007).

-   Plant:    -   -   Average height.—29.3 cm.        -   Average width.—19 cm.        -   Canopy density.—Moderate.        -   Growth habit.—Semi erect to erect.        -   Number of crowns/plant.—5-13. At peak production, the plant            will have multiple crowns. Each crown will produce one truss            and each truss will have several fruit.        -   Vigor.—Moderate.-   Leaf:    -   -   Overall.—Pinnately compound with 3 leaflets.        -   Mean length including petiole.—301 mm.        -   Mean width.—178 mm.-   Terminal leaflet:    -   -   Upper leaf surface color.—137B.        -   Lower leaf surface color.—138B.        -   Terminal leaflet length.—87 mm.        -   Terminal leaflet width.—88 mm.        -   Length to width ratio.—0.99.        -   Shape in cross section.—Concave.        -   Leaflet shape.—Obovate.        -   Terminal leaflet serration number.—18.        -   Terminal leaflet margin profile.—Obtuse.        -   Terminal leaflet shape of base.—Acute cuneate.        -   Terminal leaflet shape of serrations.—Pointed.        -   Interveinal blistering.—Moderate.        -   Pubescence density of leaves, lower surface.—Sparse.        -   Leaf glossiness.—Semi-glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.-   Petiole:    -   -   Petiole length.—231 mm.        -   Petiole diameter.—2.3 mm.        -   Pubescence density of petiole.—Moderate.        -   Petiole pose of hairs.—Perpendicular.        -   Petiole color.—144C.        -   Anthocyanin.—Present.-   Petiolule:    -   -   Length.—Terminal 3.5 mm, lateral 2.0 mm, diameter 1.2 mm.        -   Color.—144C.-   Stipule:    -   -   Stipule length.—28.0 mm.        -   Stipule width.—8.5 mm.        -   Stipule color.—145B.        -   Stipule pubescence.—Yes.        -   Anthocyanin.—No.        -   Bract pair or single.—Mostly single, occasionally paired.-   Secondary leaflets:    -   -   Color upper surface.—137B.        -   Color lower surface.—138B.        -   Secondary leaflet length.—85 mm.        -   Secondary leaflet width.—86 mm.        -   Length to width ratio.—0.98.        -   Shape in cross section.—Concave.        -   Leaflet shape.—Obovate.        -   Secondary leaflet margin profile.—Obtuse.        -   Secondary leaflet shape of base.—Oblique.        -   Secondary leaflet shape of serrations.—Pointed.        -   Pubescence density.—Leaves, lower surface — Sparse.        -   Number of leaflet serrations.—17.        -   Leaf glossiness.—Semi-gloss.        -   Texture.—Moderately smooth.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.-   Stolons:    -   -   Number of daughter plants.—25-40 depending on environmental            conditions.        -   Anthocyanin.—Variable, absent to moderate.        -   Thickness.—3 mm.        -   Pubescence.—Very sparse nearly glabrous.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Time of flowering.—Short day flowering habit.        -   Position relative to canopy.—At or below canopy.        -   Branching of the inflorescence.—At or close to crown.        -   Number of flowers/inflorescence.—6.        -   Relative flower size.—Medium.        -   Relative calyx size to corolla.—< to =.        -   Inflorescence attitude at harvest.—Mostly decumbent.        -   Inflorescence length.—20 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—39.4 mm.        -   Calyx diameter.—40 mm.        -   Blossom longevity.—1-2 days.        -   Number of stamens.—Average of 30.        -   Anther color.—13A to 16A.        -   Filament color.—150C.        -   Style color.—150A.        -   Stigma color.—2D.-   Petals:    -   -   Petal length.—14.9 mm.        -   Petal width.—14.5 mm.        -   Petal size ratio.—1.02.        -   Petals/flower.—5.        -   Petal color.—155D.        -   Corolla diameter.—40 mm.        -   Flower shape.—Orbicular.        -   Number flowers/inflorescence.—3-6.        -   Petal spacing.—Even to overlapping.-   Sepals:    -   -   Sepal number.—11.        -   Sepal color.—137A.        -   Sepal length.—16.2.        -   Sepal width.—7.85 mm.        -   Sepal attitude.—Outward, some upward.-   Calyx:    -   -   Calyx color.—137A.        -   Corolla diameter.—39.3 mm.        -   Calyx size compared to fruit.—> or =.        -   Calyx attachment.—Level.-   Pedicels:    -   -   Pedicel color.—145A.        -   Pubescence.—Low.        -   Mean length of the pedicel attached to the primary fruit.—55            mm.-   Fruit:    -   -   Fruit fragrance.—Moderate.        -   Flavor.—Moderate flavor.        -   Fruit skin color.—53A.        -   Fruit flesh color.—47A.        -   Evenness of color.—Outside skin even, inside from 47A in the            apex to NN155C in the center near the calyx.        -   Flesh and skin firmness at full ripe stage.—Moderately firm            (See Table 3).        -   Rain damage.—Minimal.        -   Fruit size average.—16.4-17.5 g.        -   Fruit shape.—Conical to slight wedge.        -   Fruit length.—41.1 mm.        -   Fruit width.—34.8 mm.        -   Fruit length to width ratio.—1.18.        -   Fruit skin glossiness.—Glossy.        -   Fruit calyx orientation.—Flat to slight rise.        -   Band without achenes.—None.        -   Center cavity size.—None or very small 2-3 mm.        -   Unevenness of surface.—Even.        -   Disease resistance.—Susceptible to grey mold (Botrytis            cinerea) and anthracnose fruit rot (Colletotrichum            acutatum).-   Seeds:    -   -   Achene color.—151A to 53A, achene color individually present            depending on location on the fruit.        -   Achene attachment.—Even with surface.        -   Achene shape.—Oval.

Preferred planting date is about 25 September in Salisbury, N.C. andOctober 5 in Clayton, N.C. Nursery performance has been fair in westernNC locations due to moderate production of many runners that producemultiple daughter plants that root easily.

The technical (pomological) descriptive data comparing yield of ‘NCS10-038’ to that of ‘Sweet Charlie’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,729),‘Camarosa’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,708) and ‘Chandler’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 5,262) in Salisbury, N.C. and in Clayton, N.C. is presented in

Tables 1-2. The post-harvest storage life attributes comparing ‘NCS10-038’ to ‘Camarosa’ and ‘Chandler’ as well as ‘NCS10-156’ arepresented in Tables 3-4. This data was previously published in part inPerkins-Veazie, P., J. Pattison, G. E. Fernandez and G. Ma. 2016. FruitQuality and Composition of Two Advanced North Carolina StrawberrySelections. Intl. J. Fruit Science. 16:(Sup 1): 220-227).

TABLE 1 Piedmont Research Station, Salisbury NC. 2015-16 Total yield,marketable yield, percent marketable yield and average berry weight.Total Total Marketable Marketable Percentage Marketable Average YieldYield Yield Yield Marketable Percent berry Genotype (g/plant) (lbs/A)(g/plant) (lbs/A) Yield (% of total) of Chandler weight (g) NCS 10- 93135749 771 29605 82.8 153 16.4 038 NCS 10- 697 26757 586 22484 84.0 11618.9 156* Camarosa 637 24431 550 21107 86.4 109 21.7 Chandler 665 25505505 19389 76.0 100 16.9 Sweet 488 18712 406 15592 83.3 80 17.3 Charlie*‘NCS 10-156’ is co-pending Plant Patent Application No. 16/602,017

TABLE 2 Central Crops Research Station, Clayton, NC 2015-16 Total yield,marketable yield, percent marketable yield and average berry weight.Total Total Marketable Marketable Percentage Marketable Average YieldYield Yield Yield Marketable Percent berry Genotype (g/plant) (lbs/A)(g/plant) (lbs/A) Yield (% of total) of Chandler weight (g) NCS 10- 78530131 712 27309 90.6 132 17.5 038 Camarosa 668 25619 607 23290 90.9 11318.2 Chandler 669 25690 539 20698 80.6 100 19.8 NCS 10- 558 21400 48518603 86.9 90 14.6 156* Sweet 337 12941 306 11725 90.6 57 14.2 Charlie*‘NCS 10-156’ is co-pending Plant Patent Application No. 16/602,017

TABLE 3 Subjective ratings of strawberry fruit held at 4 C. for 8 daysaveraged for 2014 and 2015 seasons^(z). Overall Fruit Fruit Calyx CalyxFruit Berries with Selection appearance^(y) shrivel darkness brownshrivel firmness mold (%) Camarosa 3.8a 3.9ab 3.7bc 3.8a 3.6a 4.3a  3.1aChandler 4.0a 4.3a 3.8b 3.9a 3.8a 3.2b  4.6ab NCS 10-038 4.0a 4.4a 4.2a3.4a 3.6a 3.8b  6.1ab NCS 10-156 3.3b 3.3b 3.2c 3.0b 3.0a 2.2c 12.3b^(z)All fruit quality attributes were given subjective ratings of 1 to 5where a higher number indicates better fruit quality. Berries with moldwas determined by 100% × (no. berries with mold/total no. berries).^(y)Means within column with same letter indicate no significantdifference using Tukey's HSD, p < 0.05.

TABLE 4 Fruit composition of fully ripe freshly harvested strawberryselections grown in Salisbury, NC in 2014 and 2015^(z). Titratable TotalTotal acidity anthocyanin phenolic SSC (TA) (% as SSC/ (mg P3G/ content(mg Selection (%) pH citric acid) TA 100 g fwt)^(y) GA/100 g) Day 0Camarosa 7.1b 3.82a 0.69b 10.6ab 41.27a 155.62a Chandler 6.8b 3.71b0.69b 10.0ab 48.55a 157.57a NCS 10- 7.1b 3.67b 0.75a  9.8b 28.87b142.05b 038 NCS 10- 7.8a 3.78a 0.72ab 11.0a 33.95ab 152.23a 156 Day 8Camarosa 7.6b 3.97a 0.64b 12.1a 51.52a 152.16bc Chandler 7.6b 3.87b0.66b 11.6a 45.39ab 158.50a NCS 10- 6.9c 3.81b 0.68b 10.2b 29.86c147.59c 038 NCS 10- 8.7a 3.87b 0.77a 11.6a 37.04b 153.21b 156 ^(z)Eachselection consists of a mean of 3 to 7 samples, representing 3 harvestdates per year. Means within column with same letter indicate nosignificant difference using Tukey's HSD, p < 0.05. ^(y)P3G and GA arepelargonidin 3-glucoside and gallic acid equivalents, respectively.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Fragaria xananassa Duch. plant named ‘NCS 10-038’, substantially as described andillustrated herein.